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IMDbPro

Aunjanue Ellis

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Aunjanue Ellis at an event for Men of Honor (2000)
Actress Aunjanue Ellis is nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 'King Richard.' Take a closer look at the various roles she has played throughout her career.
Play clip1:46
Aunjanue Ellis | Career Retrospective
29 Videos
99+ Photos
Aunjanue Ellis was born in San Francisco, California. She graduated from the Brown University, and later attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

During her career, Ellis performed on Off-Broadway theater, appeared in many film, and had roles on television. In film, she is best known for her roles in "Men of Honor" (2000), "Undercover Brother" (2002), "Ray" (2004), and "The Help" (2011). On television, Ellis had her most significant role on the 2015 mini-series, "The Book of Negroes".
BornFebruary 21, 1969
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 21, 1969
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 28 wins & 56 nominations total

Photos136

Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis in King Richard (2021)
Aunjanue Ellis and Demi Singleton in King Richard (2021)
Aunjanue Ellis in Ray (2004)
Jamie Foxx and Aunjanue Ellis in Ray (2004)
Jamie Foxx, Aunjanue Ellis, and Clifton Powell in Ray (2004)
Jamie Foxx and Aunjanue Ellis in Ray (2004)
Aunjanue Ellis in Ray (2004)
Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Mikayla Lashae Bartholomew, Saniyya Sidney, Daniele Lawson, and Demi Singleton in King Richard (2021)
Aunjanue Ellis in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Aunjanue Ellis in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Courtney B. Vance, Aunjanue Ellis, and Jada Harris in Lovecraft Country (2020)
Aunjanue Ellis in When They See Us (2019)

Known for

Will Smith, Saniyya Sidney, and Demi Singleton in King Richard (2021)
King Richard
7.5
  • Oracene 'Brandy' Williams
  • 2021
Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Men of Honor (2000)
Men of Honor
7.2
  • Jo
  • 2000
Denise Richards, Aunjanue Ellis, and Eddie Griffin in Undercover Brother (2002)
Undercover Brother
5.9
  • Sistah Girl
  • 2002
Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)
Ray
7.7
  • Mary Ann Fisher
  • 2004

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • The Color Purple
    • Mama
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • Caste
    • Post-production
  • Justified: City Primeval
    • Carolyn
    • Post-production
    • TV Series
  • The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
    • Post-production
  • The Nickel Boys
    • Post-production
  • Pieces of Us
    • Completed
  • The Deliverance
    • Post-production
  • Courtney B. Vance in 61st Street (2022)
    61st Street
    • Martha Roberts
    • TV Series
    • 2022–2023
  • Aunjanue Ellis in Fannie (2022)
    Fannie
    • Fannie Lou Hamer
    • Short
    • 2022
  • Will Smith, Saniyya Sidney, and Demi Singleton in King Richard (2021)
    King Richard
    • Oracene 'Brandy' Williams
    • 2021
  • Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
    Lovecraft Country
    • Hippolyta Freeman
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Release (2020)
    Release
    • Ida
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Jason Biggs and Nile Bullock in The Subject (2020)
    The Subject
    • Leslie Barnes
    • 2020
  • Raven Goodwin, Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Shelea Frazier, and Angela Birchett in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020)
    The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
    • Mattie Moss Clark
    • TV Movie
    • 2020
  • Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    • Laura Chase
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Miss Virginia (2019)
    Miss Virginia
    • Lorraine Townsend
    • 2019
  • Kiefer Sutherland in Designated Survivor (2016)
    Designated Survivor
    • Eleanor Darby
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2019
  • Asante Blackk, Marquis Rodriguez, Caleel Harris, and Ethan Herisse in When They See Us (2019)
    When They See Us
    • Sharonne Salaam
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2019
  • Alana De La Garza in Chiefs (2018)
    Chiefs
    • Kendra
    • TV Movie
    • 2018
  • Keke Palmer in Pimp (2018)
    Pimp
    • Gloria May
    • 2018
  • Stephan James and KiKi Layne in If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
    If Beale Street Could Talk
    • Mrs. Hunt
    • 2018
  • William Shakespeare, Henry Caicedo, and Jasmine Carmichael in Romeo and Juliet in Harlem (2017)
    Romeo and Juliet in Harlem
    • Lady Capulet
    • 2017

Producer

  • Jason Biggs and Nile Bullock in The Subject (2020)
    The Subject
    • executive producer
    • 2020
  • William Shakespeare, Henry Caicedo, and Jasmine Carmichael in Romeo and Juliet in Harlem (2017)
    Romeo and Juliet in Harlem
    • executive producer
    • 2017

Soundtrack

  • Raven Goodwin, Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Shelea Frazier, and Angela Birchett in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020)
    The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
    • performer: "I Can Do All Things Thru Christ That Strengthens Me"
    • TV Movie
    • 2020
  • Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)
    Ray
    • performer: "Drown in My Own Tears"
    • 2004

Videos30

Aunjanue Ellis | Career Retrospective
Clip 1:46
Aunjanue Ellis | Career Retrospective
Aunjanue Ellis in Three Films
Clip 3:09
Aunjanue Ellis in Three Films
Comic-Con@Home Sneak Peek
Clip 2:39
Comic-Con@Home Sneak Peek
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:13
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:36
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:10
Official Trailer
Teaser Trailer #2
Trailer 1:39
Teaser Trailer #2
Official Teaser
Trailer 1:26
Official Teaser
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:38
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:38
Official Trailer
The Resident
Trailer 1:54
The Resident
King Richard
Trailer 2:51
King Richard

Personal details

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  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • Height
    • 5′ 5½″ (1.66 m)
  • Born
    • February 21, 1969
    • San Francisco, California, USA
  • Relatives
    • Sibling(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared in "Tempest" on Broadway. Written by George C. Wolfe.
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Has her B.A. in African-American studies from Brown University, and studied acting in the graduate drama program at NYU.
  • Quotes
    Every role is a potential lover. I ask: Are they someone I want to wake up to in the morning and go to bed with at night? Do they question my assumptions about life? Consume me to distraction? Make my cry, then clown to make me laugh again? If I say yes, then it's all I need.

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